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Almost every aspect of daily life disrupted as Hurricane Ophelia hits the north

Belfast City Council closed its doors yesterday afternoon due to Hurricane Ophelia. Picture by Mal McCann
Belfast City Council closed its doors yesterday afternoon due to Hurricane Ophelia. Picture by Mal McCann Belfast City Council closed its doors yesterday afternoon due to Hurricane Ophelia. Picture by Mal McCann

ALMOST every aspect of daily life across the north was disrupted yesterday as Hurricane Ophelia forced the closure of courts and shops, caused the cancellation of flights and trains and saw workers sent home early.

With a few exceptions, almost all flights at both Belfast International Airport and Belfast City Airport were cancelled throughout yesterday afternoon and evening, while there were delays to flights at the City of Derry Airport.

The last train between Dublin and Belfast left at 1.20pm, with Connolly Station closed and no services running between the two cities for the rest of the day.

Translink said passengers with valid train tickets would be accepted on the last two buses departing Dublin for Belfast at 6pm, and added that no further cross-border Goldline services would operate until 4.15am on Tuesday.

Almost all bus and train journeys within Northern Ireland were cancelled from 5.30pm.

Ferry services between Belfast and Scotland were suspended between 3.30pm and 9.30pm, while the Liverpool to Belfast service was also cancelled.

With many workers sent home early for the day, there were major delays for motorists on the M1 as a fallen tree blocked part of the motorway, while the M2 was closed northbound from Sandyknowes to Templepatrick after a collision.

The PSNI said it was forced to shut Montrose Street, off the Albertbridge Road in east Belfast, after the front of a derelict building collapsed.

Northern Ireland Electricity said 1,300 customers were without power at 3pm yesterday, and had teams at 12 local incident centres on standby.

Derry City's game with Cork - who need just a point to win the League of Ireland title - at Turner's Cross was put back until Tuesday evening, after gusts ripped off part of the roof on one of the stadium's stands and dispersed it into the gardens of nearby houses.

Many shops across the north did not open at all or closed early, while by lunchtime all Bank of Ireland branches were shut and courts had finished all business.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs announced the closure of all forests and country parks under its control, including Crawfordsburn and Roe Valley.

The RSPB shut all its offices and its Window on Wildlife and Portmore Lough reserves.

Derry and Strabane District Council closed all parks and play areas, cancelled a large number of activities at leisure centres and reduced services at the Guildhall and Tower Museum.

The council has advised residents to expect some continued disruption to bin collections today.

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council also closed all facilities and offices from midday.

The head of the civil service, David Sterling, held an emergency meeting with permanent secretaries from other government departments.

All government buildings providing non-essential services closed at 1pm, while all non-essential civil service staff were sent home.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS BOX:

Flood Line: 0300 2000 100

Housing Executive out of hours: 03448 920 901

NI Water: 03457 440 088

Transport NI: 0300 200 7891

Transport NI out of hours: 028 7035 3202

NIE Networks: 03457 643 643

NI Gas Emergency Service: 0800 002 001

Ferrycheck: 08705 755 755